Stephen Kolek allowed four hits while pitching into the seventh inning, and Salvador Perez drove in both runs, highlighted by a solo homer, as the visiting Kansas City Royals snapped their six-game losing streak with Sunday’s 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kolek (2-0) walked just one batter and struck out three over 6 1/3 strong innings to help the Royals end their extended slide and finish the 1-5 road trip on a needed positive note. Perez, meanwhile, had two of Kansas City’s nine hits and provided the only offense needed by the visitors.
Royals relievers Daniel Lynch IV and Lucas Erceg (11 saves) combined to allow one hit and a walk over 2 2/3 innings.
St. Louis’ Andre Pallante (4-4) was also solid while allowing eight hits, but only the two runs, one earned, and striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings. The Cardinals, who entered on a three-game winning streak, were limited to five singles and did not bat with a runner in scoring position until the ninth.
Kansas City wasted no time opening the scoring. Maikel Garcia led off the game with a single up the middle, made it to third on Vinnie Pasquantino’s single coupled with right-fielder Victor Scott III’s throwing error and eventually came home via Perez’s fly out to left.
Perez put the Royals up by two in the fourth, when he led off the frame by sending Pallante’s knuckle-curve ball over the left-field fence.
Kansas City had an opportunity to add on when it loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth. Then, Kyle Isbel, who recorded a pair of hits, struck out and Garcia bounced into a 5-3 double play to end the threat.
Erceg, though, stranded a runner on second when he got Nathan Church to end the contest on a ground out.
St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn exited in the seventh inning with an apparent injury after beating out a potential double-play grounder.
